Northern lights
Luke Ritchie Lyrics


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And in the moment well I'm so alive
and so awake
But every sound and every note
would chase my thoughts away
Within the night I sense a
will I know I'll never break
As i gaze beyond the window
where the morning waits

The Northern Lights are calling
To the rhythm of the sea
The Northern Lights are calling me

But the solitude of sleeplessness
can be beautiful
Never silent,
never still beyond our window-sill.
There's a roar beneath the streets
beneath the city lights,
great machines careering home
amidst the heat, into the night

The Northern Lights are calling
To the rhythm of the sea
The Northern Lights are calling me

In the night I keep forgetting
all the love, the good that you send me
All of the things we've made
All they could take away

Catch a light and take a pull
upon the lungs so tight
that you squeeze away the thoughts
that fill your empty frame
Hang the phone upon the hook
cos out of mind is out of sight
so press a finger to the flame
slender shape chalk white

The Northern Lights are calling




To the rhythm of the sea
The Northern Lights are calling me

Overall Meaning

In Luke Ritchie's song "Northern Lights," he expresses the sense of being fully alive and present in the moment. He describes how every sound and note seem to chase away his thoughts, but in the stillness of the night, he finds a sense of willpower that he knows he will never break. As he gazes beyond the window and into the morning, he feels drawn to the beauty of the Northern Lights and their the rhythm with the sea.


The song also conveys a sense of awe for the city and its constant energy. The machines careen home amidst the heat and noise, never quite silent or still. Yet, in the solitude of sleeplessness, there is a kind of beauty that can be found in the roar beneath the streets and beneath the city lights.


Ritchie's lyrics also explore the idea that sometimes we forget the love and good that others send our way. He urges listeners to catch a light and take a pull, to squeeze away the thoughts that fill their empty frame, and to press a finger to the flame. Ultimately, the Northern Lights serve as a metaphor for the inspiring beauty that exists beyond one's immediate surroundings.


Line by Line Meaning

And in the moment well I'm so alive
Right now, I feel a great sense of vitality and energy


and so awake
I am fully alert and aware of my surroundings


But every sound and every note
Despite feeling alive, any noise or music is enough to disrupt my thoughts


would chase my thoughts away
No matter what I do, my mind is easily distracted and scattered


Within the night I sense a
During the night, I feel something


will I know I'll never break
Although I am aware of this unknown feeling, I am confident that it will not harm me


As i gaze beyond the window
As I look past the glass panes in front of me


where the morning waits
I see the coming of dawn in the distance


But the solitude of sleeplessness
Despite being awake, I feel a sense of isolation and loneliness


can be beautiful
Still, despite the feeling of solitude, there is a certain loveliness to it


Never silent,
The night is never truly quiet


never still beyond our window-sill.
There is always some movement and activity happening beyond our view


There's a roar beneath the streets
There is a loud noise emanating from the road beneath us


beneath the city lights,
The bright lights of the city are shining below us


great machines careering home
Large vehicles are rushing home for the night


amidst the heat, into the night
All of this is happening in the warmth and darkness of the night


In the night I keep forgetting
During the darkness, my mind is forgetful


all the love, the good that you send me
I tend to forget about all the positive and loving things that come my way


All of the things we've made
I often forget about all the accomplishments and creations we have achieved


All they could take away
I am aware that these things could easily be taken from us


Catch a light and take a pull
I light a cigarette and take a good drag


upon the lungs so tight
It feels like my lungs are constricting from the inhalation


that you squeeze away the thoughts
The act of smoking seems to push away my anxious and confused thoughts


that fill your empty frame
My physical and mental state can often feel empty and void


Hang the phone upon the hook
I decide to hang up the phone for a while


cos out of mind is out of sight
If something is out of my thoughts, it is less visible in my life


so press a finger to the flame
I place a finger near the flame of the cigarette


slender shape chalk white
The slender, white cigarette is a simple but powerful symbol in my life


The Northern Lights are calling
The aurora borealis is beckoning me


To the rhythm of the sea
It seems that the Northern Lights are in sync with the motions of the ocean


The Northern Lights are calling me
It feels like a spiritual force is calling out to me through this natural phenomenon




Contributed by Maya T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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